Added 2 October 2026
liberal
/ˈlɪb.(ə.)ɹəl/ adjective
In Latin: largus First recorded: 1800 Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about liberal at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Generous; permitting liberty; willing to give unsparingly.
He was liberal with his compliments.
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Ample, abundant; generous in quantity.
Add a liberal sprinkling of salt.
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Widely open to new ideas, willing to depart from established opinions or conventions; permissive.
Her parents had liberal ideas about child-rearing.
noun
- One with liberal views, supporting individual liberty (see Wikipedia's article on Liberalism).
- Someone with progressive or left-wing views, especially on social and environmental issues.
- A supporter of any of several liberal parties.
Origin
The adjective is from Old French liberal, from Latin līberālis (“befitting a freeman”), from līber (“free”); it is attested since the 14th century. The noun is first attested in the 1800s.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)